Expect travel delays during equipment mobilization
On July 10, the Colorado Department of Transportation began the installation of new avalanche control equipment above US Highway 550 over Red Mountain Pass, between Silverton and Ouray. The projects consist of installing remote avalanche control systems at three known snow slide path locations. Work will take place near the pass summit above the highway, at the Blue Point and Blue Willow slide paths (Mile Point 81), and near the Alpine Loop start at the Mother Cline slide path (MP 89). Geovert of Broomfield, Colo., is the prime contractor on this project.
The project involves the installation of Gazex and O’bellx fixed avalanche control systems and construction of their concrete bases and control shelters. The systems operate by mixing oxygen and propane, or hydrogen gas, in exploder nozzles at the top of high-risk zones. When the gas mixture explodes, the force of the explosion is directed down toward the snow, producing a controlled avalanche.
“These are the first fixed systems to be installed on US 550, and the units are being set at the most ideal locations to more effectively trigger these known slide paths,” CDOT Southwest Region Transportation Director Julie Constan said. “As in other locations across our state’s mountain passes, the remote-controlled systems will enable more efficient avalanche control, making the areas safer for CDOT crews and travelers.”
Two Gazex systems will be permanently installed at Blue Point/Blue Willow locations, remaining in place year-round. Three O’bellx systems will be placed at Mother Cline. The O’bellx base features are fixed and permanent, while the portable units holding the gasses will require resetting on site each winter with a helicopter.
The units are remotely controlled, which will reduce the amount of time spent on avalanche control missions. The new systems will also boost safety for crews who handle explosives, with methods like the Avalaunchers and the Howitzers used in other locations.
“Mother Cline and Blue Point/Blue Willow are our most active avalanche slide paths on US 550, and the Blue Point area is also a very popular spot for back-country skiers,” CDOT Maintenance Area Supervisor Vance Kelso said. “With these remote systems, we can more effectively bring snow down during peak conditions, often at night, before the sun hits the paths and hardens the snow surface. Then, we can clear the debris on the highway before morning and have things opened back up for the traveling public.”
Every winter CDOT and its sister agency, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, regularly monitor and control some 278 of 522 known avalanche paths located above Colorado highways. The monitoring and mitigation help prevent natural avalanches from impacting public travel. When there is a high risk of avalanche danger, CDOT will close highways at the locations of the avalanche paths in order to conduct avalanche control operations. While the road is closed to any traffic, avalanches are triggered. Maintenance crews with heavy equipment then clear the highway of any snow and debris that reached the road. The highway can then be re-opened for safer public travel.
Photo cutlines:
Gazex avalanche control unit used to mitigate snow slides on US 50 Monarch Pass, in Chaffee County.
Each winter CDOT crews reset O’bellx units onto fixed and permanent bases on US 160 Wolf Creek Pass, in Mineral County.
Map info: Map of US 550 between Silverton and Ouray displaying locations for installation of avalanche control systems at Blue Point/Blue Willow (MP81) and Mother Cline (MP 89) snow slide paths.